Nearly four million babies are born in the U.S. every year. They represent the future of our country — future workforce, parents, leaders and innovators. Investments in their health and well-being will determine the nation’s long-term productivity and success. Much of this responsibility rests on the shoulders of their families. And many families today are stressed by the challenge of making ends meet while juggling caring for their young children.

If today’s families of young children could ask the 2016 Presidential candidates how they would ensure parents have what they need to give their children the best chance to play a role in the country’s future success, what would they ask? Here is our take on what would likely be in their top 10, based on what we hear from families every day:

1. What will you do to make it possible for all parents to afford time off from work to give their newborns or newly adopted babies a good start in life?

3. How will you help working families bridge the gap between their paychecks and what it costs to provide the basic necessities for their children?

Many parents and caregivers need to work long hours and/or multiple jobs to provide for their families. Often these jobs don’t pay enough to cover the basics of daily living. Hardworking families—and their children—benefit from policies like the Earned Income Tax Credit and the Child and Dependent Care Tax Credit, which provide critical resources that can be used for basic needs, quality child care and more.

4. What will you do to help parents access resources designed to help them become great parents and give their children the strongest possible foundation for learning?

New parents and caregivers often feel isolated and scared. Babies don’t come with instruction manuals, and for those families without strong support networks, learning how to be a parent can feel especially overwhelming.

5. What will you do to help families who served our country transition more easily to civilian life?